WATERBURY — Two Waterbury residents were sentenced last week or their involvement in a fentanyl and heroin trafficking organization.
Elias Sanchez-Martinez, 31, was sentenced to 135 months of imprisonment, while Imirici Sosa-Ortiz, also known as “Mimi,” 36, was sentenced to 94 months of imprisonment.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the matter stems from a joint investigation by the DEA New Haven Task Force and the Waterbury Police Department into a Waterbury-based drug trafficking operation headed by Nestor Sosa-Ortiz.
The investigation revealed that Sosa-Ortiz’s organization received large quantities of fentanyl and heroin from suppliers in Connecticut and New York and distributed the narcotics through a network of co-conspirators, including Sanchez-Martinez.
The organization used an apartment located at 330 Bishop Street in Waterbury to store kilogram-quantities of fentanyl and heroin, and to process and package the drugs for street sale.
Imirici Sosa-Ortiz helped manage the operation at this location.
Sanchez-Martinez, Imirici Sosa-Ortiz, Isamelis Sosa-Ortiz, and several co-defendants were arrested on October 29, 2019.
On that date, investigators executed search warrants at the Bishop Street apartment and four other locations and seized approximately six kilograms of fentanyl and heroin, approximately 100,000 bags of fentanyl/heroin packaged for street distribution, approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills disguised as Percocet pills, one firearm, and approximately $50,000 in cash.
Nearly 50 grams of fentanyl were seized from Sanchez-Martinez’s Charlevoux Street residence.
Imirici Sosa-Ortiz has been detained since her arrest.
On January 22, 2020, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin and 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Sanchez-Martinez, who is a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was detained from the date of his arrest until June 20, 2020, when he was released on a $100,000 bond due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shortly thereafter, he fled to the Dominican Republic.
He was located and arrested in the Dominican Republic on June 9, 2021, and has been detained since that date.
On motion from the government, Judge Bryant ordered the forfeiture of Sanchez-Martinez’s bond.
The five individuals who signed Sanchez-Martinez’s bond are responsible for paying $100,000.
On August 29, 2022, Sanchez-Martinez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
He faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term.
Seventeen individuals were charged as a result of this investigation.
Nestor Sosa-Ortiz and Isamelis Sosa-Ortiz pleaded guilty. Nestor Sosa-Ortiz is awaiting sentencing.
On December 21, 2022, Isamelis Sosa-Ortiz was sentenced to 94 months of imprisonment.
